The present study examines the relationship of various cognitive and life event variables to depressive symptoms in children. The variables studied are locus of control, interpersonal and impersonal problem-solving ability, and objective and subjective life stress. Subjects were 47 students in the fourth grade, 58 students in the fifth grade, and 29 students in the sixth grade of a coeducational public school in a midwestern city. Several measures were employed, including the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale, the Children's Depression Inventory, the Social Means-Ends Problem Solving Procedure, the Emotional Means-Ends Problem Solving Procedure, the Optional Thinking Test (Alternative Thinking), the Anagram Task, and Coddington's Life Events Scale for Children. Testing was done either in groups or individually, depending on the nature of the instrument used. Results indicate that higher levels of depressive symptoms were associated with an external locus of control, increased level of life stress, and lower performance levels on an impersonal problem-solving task. The level of depressive symptoms was also found to be inversely related to socioeconomic status as measured by father's occupation. No consistent relationship was found between depression and interpersonal problem-solving ability. (Author/RH)